Stuffed Brinjal | Bharwan Baingan | Stuffed Eggplant | Konkani Style Bharyl Vayngan

Brinjal is a very tasty vegetable, which enhances the flavor and nutrition value of any dish when added.  Stuffed Brinjal is a delicious Maharashtrian recipe, made by slicing Brinjal lengthwise and filling it with an awesome blend of Indian spices.

Preparation Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 8 small Egg plant or Brinjal
• 2 large sliced Onion
• ½ a cup grated coconut 
• 1’’ ginger
• 6 clove of garlic
• 6 cloves
• 4 or 5 green cardamom pods
• 1" piece of cinnamon
• 5-6 Red chillies
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 3 tblsp chopped finely coriander Leaves
• 5 table spoon  Oil 
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Wash and split the Brinjal into four parts, while keeping them together at the stalk as shown in picture. Put them aside.

• Heat oil on medium heat in non stick pan.
• When it is hot, add the spices (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon), sauté them first.

• Now add half of the sliced onions and fry until brown.
• Add coconut and red chillies, stir fry until browned, remove and allow to cool.

• In a separate pan, put 1 table spoon of oil, put garlic, ginger and coriander leaves and sauté for 2 minutes.

• Grind all the above mixture, along with turmeric powder, salt to taste, to a paste using mixer.
• Add little water if needed.
• Stuff the Brinjal with this mixture, reserving some.

• Heat the remaining oil in a pan and add remaining onions and fry till brown.
• Keep the stuffed Brinjal on the pan one by one as shown in picture.

• Cook over low heat without burning, add the remaining mixer and little water if necessary, until done.

• Keep an eye. Serve hot with roti and curds.

PS:  Don’t put tamarind as the recipe tastes great with sour curds.

Read More

Konkani Randap: Sweet Dosa | Gandarli | Surnali | Goda Polo

Surnali is a traditional breakfast dish among konkanis. It is a Konkani version of Pancake. Jaggery is called ‘GoD’ in Konkani. The dosa is called as ‘Gandarli’ in North Kanara Konkani and ‘Surnali’ in South Kanara Konkani. This is usually prepared with managalore Cucumber (magge in Konkani). Even the normal green cucumber can be used instead of Mangalore Cucumber. This sweetish and tangy dosa tastes yummy when served with delicious ghee.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes for one dosa. Soaking rice overnight.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Dosa Rice
• 1 cup Cucumber(magge/taushe)
• 1/2 cup grated Coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
• 1/4 cup Avalakki (Poha/phovu)
• 3/4 cup Jaggery
• Salt for taste

Method:

• Cut cucumber(magge/taushe) in small cubes.

• Mix cucumber, fenugreek seeds and rice nicely and keep it aside for 1-2 hrs. Don’t use water to soak.
• Grind together coconut, cucumber and rice.

• Soak poha for 5 minutes, squeeze out the water and add to the mix.
• Continue grinding to a smooth paste.  Keep the batter as thick as possible.
• When the batter is smooth, add powdered jaggery  and continue to grind until it is well blended.
• Keep it overnight.

• Add salt. Beat and mix well. 
• Make dosas (like uttappa, this dosa is thicker than normal dosa).
• Cover the pancake and cook on low flame till the upper side gets holes and no signs of any raw batter on the top. The lower side of the Surnali should be light golden brown, take care not to blacken it.
• Serve hot with Ghee.

PS:  Don’t use water for soaking. Cucumber when mixed with rice, leaves water which is more than sufficient for the rice to get soaked. Take care not to make it salty, as the jaggery has a little salt in it. 

Read More

Indian Sweets : Quick And Easy To Prepare Shrikhand Recipe

Shrikhand is a classic delicacy of Western India, to be had along with puris or as it is.  It is a dessert from Gujarat, prepared on the occasions and festivals like Diwali and Janmashtami.  It is also a very popular sweet dish in Maharastra and equally popular in all over western India.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes (Excluding the time to prepare hung yogurt)

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of ready made yogurt or yogurt made from 1 liters of milk
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 2 spoon sour cream
• Few strands of saffron soaked in about 1 tablespoon warm milk
• About ¼ teaspoon crushed cardamom
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon sliced pistachios

Method:

• Take a clean muslin cloth and take the yogurt in it.
• Tie a knot and hang it so that all the water drains out from the yogurt.

• Leave it like this overnight (or for around 10 hours)
• Yogurt will become thick in consistency and is called hung yogurt.
• Put yogurt into a bowl, add sour cream, sugar and mix it well.

• Add crushed cardamom for aroma.
• Add the saffron milk for saffron color, yellowish orange.
• Beat well till sugar dissolves.

• Now add almonds and pistachios.
• Chill for 2 hours before serving.

Read More

Quick And Easy Avocado Recipe : Avocado Juice | Avocado Milkshake | Avocado Dessert | Butterfruit Dessert

Avocado is one among the very tasty fruits. Nowadays, this fruit is available in almost all parts of the world. There are many Health Benefits of Avocado. It is also know as Butter Fruit. Here is a very yummy dessert recipe which kids would love to eat.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe Avocados
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 cups of milk
• ½ tablespoon cardamom/elaichi seeds

Method:

• Wash the Avocado and scoop out the flesh neatly with a spoon into a mixing bowl.
• Cut the flesh into small cubes.

• With the back of a spoon slowly mash the flesh into a uniform mixture.
• Combine the rest of the ingredients and blend it

• Refrigerate for an hour. And serve chill.

PS: You could even grind all the same contents in a mixer grinder and have it as a milk shake. The recipe remains the same

Read More

Quick Rice Dishes : Pudina Pulav Recipe | Pudina Rice | Mint Pulao

Pudina is a powerful antioxidant and it helps in the digestion of food. The aroma and taste of pudina is simply marvelous and always makes us feel fresh and active. The strong aroma of Pudina helps in prevention of Asthma and cough as well. Apart from this there are a whole lot of nutritional and medicinal benefits of Pudina leaves that makes us want to add this herb to our cooking so that our family benefits from it. Some of the foods often made with Pudina leaves are Pudina Chutney and Pudina Rice. Here is a Pudina Rice recipe.

Preparation Time: About 45 minutes, including cooking time

Servings: 2 to 3

Ingredients:

• 2 cups long grained  rice
• 2 cups fresh mint / Pudina leaves, lightly chopped
• ½ a cup coriander leaves, lightly chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped fine
• 2 to 3 green chillies
• ¼ cup grated coconut (optional, fresh works best, frozen will do too)
• A small piece of ginger, lighty chopped
• 4 cloves
• 1 or 2 green cardamom pods
• 1" piece of cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 12 roasted cashews for garnishing (optional)
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Clean, wash and soak the rice for 30 mins.
• Heat ghee on medium heat in non stick pan.

• When it is hot, add the spices (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon), saute them first.
• Add green chillies, then lightly chopped Pudina leaves ,coriander leaves and  ginger.
• Add grated coconut and fry for 2 minutes.
• Make a coarse paste of all the above contents using mixer.

• Heat ghee on medium heat in non stick pan, Add onions, saute until onions start to brown.
• Add the pureed Pudina-green chilli-coconut paste. Fry until the Pudina paste changes color from bright green to light-green.

• Add the washed rice and saute for a minute. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil.

• Reduce heat and cover with lid and cook till the rice is done.
• Serve hot with raita or any curry of your choice.

Read More